Scam Name: Defimaster.finance Investment Scam

Amount Lost: $19,357 USD
Scam URL: defimaster.finance

Victim Description:
The victim was introduced to the Defimaster.finance investment scheme by Rachel, a person they met online, who claimed to live in New York. Initially, the victim invested $30,000, and over time, the balance grew to $99,000. However, when the victim attempted to withdraw the funds, they were informed that they would need to send an additional $20,000 to “release” the funds, a typical tactic used in investment scams to extort more money from the victim. This fraudulent behavior is indicative of an advanced investment scam designed to deceive victims into sending larger sums of money under false pretenses.

Scam Tactics:
Fake Investment Opportunity:
The victim was likely shown fake or manipulated financial growth in the form of an increasing balance (from $30,000 to $99,000) to convince them to continue investing.
Withdrawal Block:
When the victim attempted to withdraw the funds, they were told they had to pay an additional $20,000 for withdrawal processing or to “unlock” their funds. This is a common strategy used by scammers to prevent victims from accessing their money and to demand further payments.
Pressure for More Money:
The scammer pressures the victim to send more funds in the hopes of accessing their balance, creating a sense of urgency. In this case, the victim is coerced into sending an additional $20,000 to retrieve a balance that has been fabricated or inflated.
Cryptocurrency Transaction Details:
One cryptocurrency transaction was made to the scam platform:

Date: 28-03-2023
Transaction Hash (ID): 0x8559226a0d242a04151c22d4f6ff6e213542c7820bde7b1d1886ee76ba2ac881
Cryptocurrency: ETH
Amount: 11.28 ETH
Wallet Address (ID): 0x95a931058dab96845ed50901afb190ebbaa6b324

The 11.28 ETH was sent to the scam platform’s wallet, likely as part of the initial investment. This transaction may be traceable using blockchain explorers to investigate further or track the scammer’s movements.

Domain Information:
The website defimaster.finance was registered with Domain Science Kutatási Szolgáltató Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság, a registrar that may be linked to suspicious or fraudulent activities. The domain was registered relatively recently on February 13, 2024, and is set to expire on February 13, 2025.

Domain: defimaster.finance
Registrar: Domain Science Kutatási Szolgáltató Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság
Registered On: February 13, 2024
Expires On: February 13, 2025
Updated On: December 4, 2024
Status: ok
Name Servers:ns1.bodis.com
ns2.bodis.com
The domain is still active, and its “ok” status suggests that it hasn’t been flagged or blocked yet. The name servers indicate that the website may be managed by a third-party DNS service, which is often used by fraudulent websites to obscure their ownership or location.

Scam Overview:
The victim was introduced to Defimaster.finance, an investment platform that initially appeared to generate profits. After sending $30,000, the victim saw the account balance grow to $99,000. However, the victim was then told they must pay an additional $20,000 to withdraw their funds. This is a classic scam where the fraudsters use fake financial growth and pressure tactics to extort more money from the victim while preventing access to the original investment.

Recommendations:
Report the Scam:
The victim should report the incident to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Reporting this scam can help identify and shut down the fraudulent operation.
Track Blockchain Transactions:
Using the provided transaction hash, the victim can trace the movement of the funds using a blockchain explorer. This may reveal the scammer’s wallet address and potentially expose other victims or parts of the fraudulent network.
Contact Financial Institutions:
The victim should reach out to their cryptocurrency exchange (e.g., Coinbase, Crypto.com) and alert them about the fraudulent transactions. This may help prevent further transactions or potentially freeze accounts involved in the scam.
Consult Legal Advice:
Given the significant amount of money involved, the victim should seek legal counsel to understand their options for recovering the funds and holding the scammers accountable.
Disengage from the Scammer:
The victim should stop all communication with the scammer and block any contact. Continuing to engage with the fraudsters will likely lead to further financial loss.
Monitor for Suspicious Activity:
The victim should closely monitor their bank accounts, credit cards, and cryptocurrency wallets for any suspicious activity or unauthorized withdrawals. Any such activity should be reported immediately.
Alert Others:
The victim should consider posting their experience on scam reporting platforms or social media to warn others about Defimaster.finance and the scam tactics used.

Conclusion:
The Defimaster.finance investment scam led to the victim losing $19,357 USD after initially sending $30,000 to the fraudulent platform. The scammers falsely inflated the victim’s balance and then demanded an additional $20,000 for withdrawal. The victim should report the scam to authorities, trace the cryptocurrency transactions, and consult with legal professionals to explore options for recovery. The scam is typical of fraudulent “investment” schemes designed to manipulate and extort victims.